Sliding-eave mount mechanism for canopy structure

ABSTRACT

A collapsible canopy structure includes one or more eaves, one or more fixed eave mounts, one or more sliding eave mounts and one or more vertical poles. Each of the vertical poles has a top end and a bottom end. Each of the vertical poles is connected by at least one of the one or more eaves. At least one of the fixed eave mounts is coupled to at least one of the eaves and attached proximate to the top end of at least one of the vertical poles. At least one of the sliding eave mounts is coupled to at least one of the eaves and slidingly coupled to one of the vertical poles between its top end and its bottom end. One or more detent elements include a round or spherical detent surface that engages an opening of the one or more vertical poles.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Any and all priority applications identified in the Application DataSheet, or any correction thereto, are hereby incorporated by referenceherein and made a part of the present disclosure.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The inventions disclosed herein relate generally to canopy structures,including sliding-eave mount mechanisms for canopy structures.

Description of the Related Art

Collapsible canopy structures often include corner and/or side verticalsupport members, which together support collapsible eaves and centralframe structures. The vertical support members often include a fixedmount and a sliding mount. The sliding mount is movable relative to thevertical support member to permit the collapse or deployment of theeaves and central frame structures. The sliding mount is often lockedinto a deployed position relative to the vertical support member by apop-pin arrangement, which can be difficult to actuate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, a need exists for improved retention or lock assemblies forsliding eave mounts or other similar movable portions of a collapsiblecanopy (e.g., leg height locking arrangement). The systems, methods anddevices described herein have innovative aspects, no single one of whichis indispensable or solely responsible for their desirable attributes.Without limiting the scope of the claims, some of the advantageousfeatures will now be summarized.

A collapsible canopy structure includes one or more eaves, one or morefixed eave mounts, one or more sliding eave mounts and one or morevertical poles. Each of the vertical poles has a top end and a bottomend. Each of the vertical poles is connected by at least one of the oneor more eaves. At least one of the fixed eave mounts is coupled to atleast one of the eaves and attached proximate to the top end of at leastone of the vertical poles. At least one of the sliding eave mounts iscoupled to at least one of the eaves and slidingly coupled to one of thevertical poles between its top end and its bottom end. One or moredetent elements include a round or spherical detent surface that engagesan opening of the one or more vertical poles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Throughout the drawings, reference numbers can be reused to indicategeneral correspondence between reference elements. The drawings areprovided to illustrate example embodiments described herein and are notintended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a collapsible canopy structure havingcertain features aspects and advantages of the present sliding eavemount arrangement.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional top view of one of the support legs orpoles illustrating an embodiment of a sliding eave mount arrangementhaving an internal detent member or ball.

FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of one of the support legs or polesillustrating an embodiment of a sliding eave mount arrangement having aninternal detent member or ball.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional top view of one of the support legs orpoles illustrating another embodiment of a sliding eave mountarrangement having an external detent member or ball.

FIG. 5 is a sectional side view of one of the support legs or polesillustrating another embodiment of a sliding eave mount arrangementhaving an external detent member or ball.

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional top view of one of the support legs orpoles illustrating an embodiment of a sliding eave mount arrangementhaving an internal detent member or spring plate.

FIG. 7 is a sectional side view of one of the support legs or polesillustrating an embodiment of a sliding eave mount arrangement having aninternal detent member or spring plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purpose of understanding particular embodiments, reference willbe made to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a front elevation view of one embodiment of a canopy frame100 for a collapsible canopy shelter. The canopy frame 100 typicallysupports a shade or cover element, such as a canvas or other fabric orcollapsible cover, among other possible materials or arrangements. Inthis embodiment, canopy frame 100 comprises a plurality of eaves 120linking a plurality of upwardly extending poles 130. In someembodiments, the upwardly extending poles 130 can comprise a pluralityof telescoping pole members. For example, the upwardly extending poles130 can comprise a top telescoping pole member 132 and a bottomtelescoping pole member 134. In other configurations, more than two polemembers can be provided, such as three, four or more for example. Eacheave 120 may comprise at least one and, preferably, a series ofpivotally coupled scissor-jack members 126 ₁, 126 ₂, 126 ₃, . . . 126_(N). Each scissor-jack member 126 ₁, 126 ₂, 126 ₃, . . . 126 _(N) mayinclude a first cross member 122 ₁, 122 ₂, 122 ₃, . . . 122 _(N) and asecond cross member 124 ₁, 124 ₂, 124 ₃, . . . 124 _(N), crossed andpivotally coupled at a cross point 128. In some embodiments, to provideadditional rigidity to improve the structural integrity of canopy frame10, one or more (e.g., two) reinforcing cross members 125 may be crossedand pivotally coupled to the first cross members and second crossmembers at each intersection of scissor jack members 126 ₁, 126 ₂, 126₃, . . . 126 _(N). All pivoting joints may be pinned, bolted, riveted,joined by rotational fasteners, or otherwise rotatively connected as isknown in the art.

Each eave 120 can be collapsibly coupled to a pair of upwardly extendingpoles 130 through a pair of fixed eave mounts 112 and a pair of slidingeave mounts 110 (one of each mount 110 and 112 associated with each pole130). Fixed eave mounts 112 may be fixably coupled to the top ends ofthe upwardly extending poles 130, and sliding eave mounts 110 can beslidably coupled to the poles 130 such that sliding eave mounts 110 canslide in an axial direction or, in other words, the direction of thelength of upwardly extending poles 130. The cross members 122, 124 canbe pivotally coupled to the eave mounts 110, 112. For example, firstcross member 122 ₁ can be pivotally coupled to a first fixed eave mount112, and first cross member 122 ₃ can be pivotally coupled to a secondfixed eave mount 112. Second cross member 124 ₁ can be pivotally coupledto a first sliding eave mount 110, and second cross member 124 ₃ can bepivotally coupled to a second sliding eave mount 110. As shown in FIG.1, the sliding eave mounts 110 are shown in a fixed extended or deployedposition such as when a canopy is in a fully-opened position. When thesliding eave mounts 110 are slid away from the fixed eave mounts 112(e.g., down the upwardly extending poles 130 in a downward directiondenoted by the arrow A), the canopy frame 110 can transition from afully-opened position to a closed position, and scissor-jack members 126₁, 126 ₂, 126 ₃, . . . 126 _(N) can collapse toward a positionedgenerally aligned with the poles 130 and with one another in a mannersimilar to the compression of an accordion.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of a cross section of a portion of an embodimentof a canopy frame 200, which can be the same as or similar to the canopyframe 100 of FIG. 1. In particular, sliding eave mount 210 can beslidably coupled to an upwardly extending pole 232 and pivotally coupledto cross members 222 and 224 and additional support member 226. Thesliding eave mount 210 can comprise an outer wall 218, a spring 212, adetent member or ball 214, and an opening 216. The upwardly extendingpole 232 similarly can comprise an opening that can align with theopening 216 in the sliding eave mount 210. Interior walls of the slidingeave mount 210 can be slidably coupled to exterior walls of the upwardlyextending pole 232. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the sliding eave mount 210is shown in a fixed position such as when the canopy frame 200 is in afully-opened position. In this embodiment, the spring 212 can beprovided in the interior space of the sliding eave mount 210 andupwardly extending pole 232. The spring 212 can be configured to engagethe ball 214, such as by surrounding a shaft portion of the ball 214,and urge the ball 214 toward the opening 216 such that, when aligned, aportion of the ball 214, which preferably is a rounded or spherical(semi-spherical, as illustrated herein) portion, engages the opening 216to hold the sliding eave mount 210 in place relative to the upwardlyextending pole 232. A first end of the spring 212 can engage the ball214 to provide a force that can push the ball 214 into the opening 216.In different embodiments, the spring 212 can comprise any suitablematerial and be any suitable type of spring, including a compressioncoil spring, for example. In addition, the spring 212 can be anysuitable stiffness. In some embodiments, a second end of the spring canengage an interior wall of the upwardly extending pole 232. Inalternative embodiments, a screw member (not shown) provided in theupwardly extending pole 232 can be aligned and engaged with the secondend of the spring 212. A hole in the sliding eave mount 210 can provideaccess to the screw member. By adjusting the position of the screwmember, the spring 212 can be further compressed and the tension in thespring 212 thereby can be adjusted. Adjusting the tension in the spring212 can be used to adjust the force pressing the ball 214 into theopening 216.

A method of opening and closing the canopy frame 200 will now bedescribed. When the sliding eave mount 210 is in a fixed position suchas when the canopy frame 200 is in an opened state, the ball 214 isengaged with the opening 216 via a force applied by the spring 212 tohold the sliding eave mount 210 in place. In some embodiments, less thanhalf of the surface of the ball 214 is exposed through the opening 216when the sliding eave mount 210 is in a fixed engaged position. Indifferent embodiments, the portion of the surface area of the ball 214exposed through the opening 216 can vary depending on the size of theopening 216 and the size of the ball 214. To move the sliding eave mount210 to transition the canopy frame 200 from an opened to a closedposition, a user can push the ball 214 inwards, either directly or viaan intermediate actuation member or arrangement, to disengage the ball214 from the opening 216. When the ball 214 is retracted beyond aninterior surface of the sliding eave mount 210 and disengages theopening 216, the sliding eave mount 210 can be moved relative to theupwardly extending pole 232. Moving each of the sliding eave mounts 210downwards along the respective upwardly extending poles 232 cantransition the canopy frame 200 from an opened to a closed state and cancause the eaves to collapse in a manner similar to the compression of anaccordion. To transition the canopy frame 200 from a closed state to anopened state, a user can slide the sliding eave mount 210 upwards alongthe upwardly extending pole 232 until the opening 216 of the slidingeave mount 210 is aligned with the opening in the upwardly extendingpole 232 and the spring 212 engages the ball 214 with the opening 216.

In some embodiments, to move the sliding eave mount 210 to transitionthe canopy frame 200 from an opened to a closed position, a user cansimply push downwards on the sliding eave mount 210. Although the spring212 and ball 214 can engage the opening 216 to hold the sliding eavemount 210 in place, if a sufficient downward force is applied to thesliding eave mount 210, the sliding eave mount 210 can overcome theengagement force of the spring 212 and ball 214, compressing the spring212 and ball 214 inward to disengage it from the opening 216. Eaves thatare interconnected with other sliding eave mounts on other poles cantransfer the downward force to the remaining sliding eave mounts. Thismethod advantageously allows a user to apply a downward force at asingle sliding eave mount in order to transition an entire canopy framefrom an opened to a closed state. For example, for a rectangular canopyframe comprising four upwardly extending poles and four sliding eavemounts, a user can transition the canopy frame from an opened to aclosed state by applying a downward force to any one of the four slidingeave mounts. The downward force applied by the user can overcome theengagement force of each spring and ball in each sliding eave mount,allowing the user to move the sliding eave mounts and collapse thecanopy frame without directly disengaging each of the sliding easemounts individually. Such an arrangement is in contrast with cylindricalpins used in existing canopy structures, which will not retract orrelease as a result of downward force and often are difficult toactuate. Therefore, an aspect of the present invention involves therealization that a rounded or spherical ball or detent memberunexpectedly is sufficient to maintain the sliding eave mount in alocked position during normal use conditions of the canopy, butsubstantially eases unlocking of the sliding eave mount and, thus,collapsing of the canopy.

FIG. 3 shows a side cross-sectional view of a portion of an embodimentof a canopy frame 300, which can be the same as or similar to thecanopies of FIG. 1 or 2. In particular, sliding eave mount 310 can beslidably coupled to an upwardly extending pole 332 and pivotally coupledto cross member 322. The sliding eave mount 310 can comprise an outerwall 318, a spring 312, a ball 314, and an opening 316. The upwardlyextending pole 332 similarly can comprise an opening that can align withthe opening 316 in the sliding eave mount 310. Interior walls of thesliding eave mount 310 can be slidably coupled to exterior walls of theupwardly extending pole 332. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the sliding eavemount 310 is shown in a fixed position such as when the canopy frame 300is in a fully-opened position. The spring 312 can be configured toengage the ball 314 with the opening 316 to hold the sliding eave mount310 in place relative to the upwardly extending pole 332. A first end ofthe spring 312 can engage the ball 314 to provide a force that can pushthe ball 314 into the opening 316. In different embodiments, the spring312 can comprise any suitable material and be any suitable type ofspring, including a compression coil spring. In addition, the spring 312can be any suitable stiffness. In some embodiments, a second end of thespring 312 can engage an interior wall of the upwardly extending pole332. In alternative embodiments, a screw member (not shown) provided inthe upwardly extending pole 332 can be aligned and engaged with thesecond end of the spring 312. A hole in the sliding eave mount 310 canprovide access to the screw member. By adjusting the position of thescrew member, the spring 312 can be further compressed and the tensionin the spring 312 thereby can be adjusted. Adjusting the tension in thespring 312 can be used to adjust the force pressing the ball 314 intothe opening 316.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of a cross section of a portion of an embodimentof a canopy frame 400, which can be the same as or similar to thecanopies of FIGS. 1-3, but includes a different sliding eave mountdetent arrangement. In particular, sliding eave mount 410 can beslidably coupled to an upwardly extending pole 432 and pivotally coupledto cross members 422 and 424 and additional support member 426. Thesliding eave mount 410 can comprise an outer wall 418, a spring 412, aball 414, and an internal opening 416. The upwardly extending pole 432similarly can comprise an opening that can align with the internalopening 416 in the sliding eave mount 410. Interior walls of the slidingeave mount 410 can be slidably coupled to exterior walls of the upwardlyextending pole 432. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the sliding eave mount 410is shown in a fixed position such as when the canopy frame 400 is in afully-opened position. In this embodiment, the spring 412 can beprovided within the interior space of the sliding eave mount 410 but onthe exterior of the upwardly extending pole 432. The spring 412 can beconfigured to engage the ball 414 with the internal opening 416 to holdthe sliding eave mount 410 in place relative to the upwardly extendingpole 432. A first end of the spring 412 can engage the ball 414 toprovide a force that can push the ball 414 into the internal opening416. In different embodiments, the spring 412 can comprise any suitablematerial and be any suitable type of spring, including a compressioncoil spring. In addition, the spring 412 can be any suitable stiffness.In some embodiments, a screw member 413 can be provided in the slidingeave mount 410 and can be aligned and engaged with the second end of thespring 412. By adjusting the position of the screw member 413, thespring 412 can be further compressed and the tension in the spring 412thereby can be adjusted. Adjusting the tension in the spring 412 can beused to adjust the force pressing the ball 414 into the internal opening416. In alternative embodiments, a second end of the spring 412 canengage an interior wall of the sliding eave mount 410.

A method of opening and closing the canopy frame 400 will now bedescribed. When the sliding eave mount 410 is in a fixed position suchas when the canopy frame 400 is in an opened state, the spring 412 andball 414 are engaged with the internal opening 416 to hold the slidingeave mount 410 in place. In some embodiments, less than half of thesurface of the ball 414 is exposed through the internal opening 416 onthe interior of the upwardly extending pole 432 when the sliding eavemount 410 is in a fixed engaged position. In different embodiments, theportion of the surface area of the ball 414 exposed through the internalopening 416 can vary depending on the size of the opening 416 and thesize of the ball 414. To move the sliding eave mount 410 to transitionthe canopy frame 400 from an opened to a closed position, a sufficientdownward force can be applied to the sliding eave mount 410. Thedownward force can cause the sliding eave mount 410 to overcome theengagement force of the spring 412 and ball 414, compressing the spring412 and ball 414 to disengage it from the internal opening 416. When theball 414 is compressed past the exterior of the upwardly extending pole432, the sliding eave mount 410 can be disengaged from the internalopening 416 and can freely move relative to the upwardly extending pole432. This method of closing advantageously allows a user to apply adownward force at a single sliding eave mount in order to transition anentire canopy frame from an opened to a closed state. For example, for arectangular canopy frame comprising four upwardly extending poles andfour sliding eave mounts, a user can transition the canopy frame from anopened to a closed state by applying a downward force to any one of thefour sliding eave mounts. The downward force applied by the user canovercome the engagement force of each spring and ball in each slidingeave mount, allowing the user to move the sliding eave mounts andcollapse the canopy frame without directly disengaging each of thesliding ease mounts individually. To transition the canopy frame 400from a closed state to an opened state, a user can slide the slidingeave mount 410 upwards along the upwardly extending pole 432 until theinternal opening 416 of the sliding eave mount 410 is aligned with theopening in the upwardly extending pole 432 and the spring 412 engagesthe ball 414 with the internal opening 416.

FIG. 5 shows a side cross-sectional view of a portion of an embodimentof a canopy frame 500, which can be the same as or similar to the canopyframes of FIGS. 1-4. In particular, sliding eave mount 510 can beslidably coupled to an upwardly extending pole 532 and pivotally coupledto cross member 522. The sliding eave mount 510 can comprise an outerwall 518, a spring 512, a ball 514, and an internal opening 516. Theupwardly extending pole 532 similarly can comprise an opening that canalign with the internal opening 516 in the sliding eave mount 510.Interior walls of the sliding eave mount 510 can be slidably coupled toexterior walls of the upwardly extending pole 532. As illustrated inFIG. 5, the sliding eave mount 510 is shown in a fixed position such aswhen the canopy frame 500 is in a fully-opened position. The spring 512can be configured to engage the ball 514 with the internal opening 516to hold the sliding eave mount 510 in place relative to the upwardlyextending pole 532. A first end of the spring 512 can engage the ball514 to provide a force that can push the ball 514 into the internalopening 516. In different embodiments, the spring 512 can comprise anysuitable material and be any suitable type of spring, including acompression coil spring. In addition, the spring 512 can be any suitablestiffness. In some embodiments, the sliding eave mount 510 can comprisea screw member 513 aligned and engaged with a second end of the spring512. By adjusting the position of the screw member 513, the spring 512can be further compressed and the tension in the spring 512 thereby canbe adjusted. Adjusting the tension in the spring 512 can be used toadjust the force pressing the ball 514 into the internal opening 516,thereby adjusting the downward force on the sliding eave mount 510 thatallows transition from an opened to a closed state.

FIG. 6 shows a top view of a cross section of a portion of an embodimentof a canopy frame 600, which can be the same as or similar to the canopyframes of FIGS. 1-5, but preferably includes a different sliding eavemount detent arrangement. In particular, sliding eave mount 610 can beslidably coupled to an upwardly extending pole 632 and pivotally coupledto cross members 622 and 624 and additional support member 626. Thesliding eave mount 610 can comprise an outer wall 618, a spring ordetent member 612 having a preferably round or spherical end or detentportion 614, and an opening 616. The upwardly extending pole 632similarly can comprise an opening that can align with the opening 616 inthe sliding eave mount 610. Interior walls of the sliding eave mount 610can be slidably coupled to exterior walls of the upwardly extending pole632. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the sliding eave mount 610 is shown in afixed position such as when the canopy frame 600 is in a fully-openedposition. In this embodiment, the spring 612 can be provided in theinterior space of the sliding eave mount 610 and upwardly extending pole632. The spring 612 can be configured to engage the spring end portion614 with the opening 616 to hold the sliding eave mount 610 in placerelative to the upwardly extending pole 632. The spring 612 can providea force that engages the spring end portion 614 with the opening 616. Indifferent embodiments, the spring 612 can comprise any suitable materialand can be any suitable stiffness. In some embodiments, another end ofthe spring 612 can engage an interior wall of the upwardly extendingpole 632. In alternative embodiments, a screw member (not shown)provided in the upwardly extending pole 632 can be aligned and engagedwith the other end of the spring 612. A hole in the sliding eave mount610 can provide access to the screw member. By adjusting the position ofthe screw member, the spring 612 can be further compressed and thetension in the spring 612 thereby can be adjusted. Adjusting the tensionin the spring 612 can be used to adjust the force pressing the springend portion 614 into the opening 616.

A method of opening and closing the canopy frame 600 will now bedescribed. When the sliding eave mount 610 is in a fixed position suchas when the canopy frame 600 is in an opened state, spring end portion614 is engaged with the opening 616 to hold the sliding eave mount 610in place. In some embodiments, less than half of the surface of thespring end portion 614 is exposed through the opening 616 when thesliding eave mount 610 is in a fixed engaged position. In differentembodiments, the portion of the surface area of the spring end portion614 exposed through the opening 616 can vary depending on the size ofthe opening 616 and the size of the spring end portion 614. To move thesliding eave mount 610 to transition the canopy frame 600 from an openedto a closed position, a user can push the spring end portion 614 inwardsto compress the spring 612 and disengage it from the opening 616. Whenthe spring end portion 614 inwardly slides past an interior surface ofthe sliding eave mount 610 at the opening 616, the sliding eave mount610 can be disengaged from the opening 616 and can freely move relativeto the upwardly extending pole 632. Moving the sliding eave mount 610downwards along the upwardly extending pole 632 can transition thecanopy frame 600 from an opened to a closed state and can cause theeaves to collapse in a manner similar to the compression of anaccordion. To transition the canopy frame 600 from a closed state to anopened state, a user can slide the sliding eave mount 610 upwards alongthe upwardly extending pole 632 until the opening 616 of the slidingeave mount 610 is aligned with the opening in the upwardly extendingpole 632 and the spring end portion 614 engages with the opening 616.

In some embodiments, to move the sliding eave mount 610 to transitionthe canopy frame 600 from an opened to a closed position, a user cansimply push downwards on the sliding eave mount 610. Although the spring612 and spring end portion 614 can engage the opening 616 to hold thesliding eave mount 610 in place, if a sufficient downward force isapplied to the sliding eave mount 610, the sliding eave mount 610 canovercome the engagement force of the spring 612 and spring end portion614, compressing the spring 612 and spring end portion 614 inward todisengage it from the opening 616. Eaves that are interconnected withother sliding eave mounts on other poles can transfer the downward forceto the remaining sliding eave mounts. This method advantageously allowsa user to apply a downward force at a single sliding eave mount in orderto transition an entire canopy frame from an opened to a closed state.For example, for a rectangular canopy frame comprising four upwardlyextending poles and four sliding eave mounts, a user can transition thecanopy frame from an opened to a closed state by applying a downwardforce to any one of the four sliding eave mounts. The downward forceapplied by the user can overcome the engagement force of each spring ineach sliding eave mount, allowing the user to move the sliding eavemounts and collapse the canopy frame without directly disengaging eachof the sliding ease mounts individually.

FIG. 7 shows a side cross-sectional view of a portion of an embodimentof a canopy frame 700, which can be the same as or similar to the canopyframes of FIGS. 1-6. In particular, sliding eave mount 710 can beslidably coupled to an upwardly extending pole 732 and pivotally coupledto cross member 722. The sliding eave mount 710 can comprise an outerwall 718, a spring or detent member 712 comprising a preferably round orspherical spring end portion 714, and an opening 716. The upwardlyextending pole 732 similarly can comprise an opening that can align withthe opening 716 in the sliding eave mount 710. Interior walls of thesliding eave mount 710 can be slidably coupled to exterior walls of theupwardly extending pole 732. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the sliding eavemount 710 is shown in a fixed position such as when the canopy frame 700is in a fully-opened position. The spring 712 and spring end portion 714can be configured to engage the opening 716 to hold the sliding eavemount 710 in place relative to the upwardly extending pole 732. Indifferent embodiments, the spring 712 can comprise any suitable materialand be any suitable stiffness. In some embodiments, another end of thespring 712 can engage an interior wall of the upwardly extending pole732. In alternative embodiments, a screw member (not shown) provided inthe upwardly extending pole 732 can be aligned and engaged with theother end of the spring 712. A hole in the sliding eave mount 710 canprovide access to the screw member. By adjusting the position of thescrew member, the spring 712 can be further compressed and the tensionin the spring 712 thereby can be adjusted. Adjusting the tension in thespring 712 can be used to adjust the force pressing the spring endportion 714 into the opening 716. The spring 712 preferably is similaror the same as the spring 612. Preferably, the spring 712 is generallyU-shaped from a side view having a first leg portion, a second legportion generally parallel to the first leg portion and a connectingportion between the first and second leg portions. The spring 712 can beconstructed from a thin piece of spring steel or other similar orsuitable material, including some resilient plastic materials, forexample, which provide the first leg portion with resilient movementrelative to the second leg portion. Accordingly, the spring end portionor detent member 714 is urged or biased toward engagement with theopening 716. A thickness of the material and/or type of material may beselected to provide a desired spring force. The spring 712 can besecured in place within the canopy leg 732 (e.g., via a fastener orother suitable arrangement) or can be simply positioned within thecanopy leg 732 and rely on the spring force of the spring 712 to holditself in place.

The features and attributes of the specific embodiments disclosed abovemay be combined in different ways to form additional embodiments, all ofwhich fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Although thisinvention has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments,other embodiments that are apparent to those of ordinary skill in theart, including embodiments which do not provide all of the benefits andfeatures set forth herein, are also within the scope of this invention.Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined only byreference to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A collapsible canopy structure comprising: aplurality of eaves; four vertical poles, wherein each of the verticalpoles comprises a top end and a bottom end; a fixed eave mount locatedalong the top end of each vertical pole, wherein each of the fixed eavemounts is coupled to at least two of the plurality of eaves; a slidingeave mount slidably coupled along each vertical pole, wherein each ofthe sliding eave mounts is coupled to at least two of the plurality ofeaves; at least one engagement feature along each of the vertical poles;and a detent member positioned on each of the sliding eave mounts, eachdetent member comprising a rounded detent surface that is configured toresiliently engage the at least one engagement feature of thecorresponding vertical pole, wherein the collapsible canopy is in afully opened position when each of the detent members is engaged, via anengagement force, with a corresponding engagement feature of thecorresponding vertical pole; wherein a cross-sectional dimension of eachdetent member is larger than a cross-sectional dimension of thecorresponding engagement feature; and wherein, when the canopy structureis in the fully opened position, each detent member is resilientlyengage to the engagement feature of the corresponding vertical pole;wherein the rounded detent surface of each detent member is configuredsuch that downward force applied to only one of the sliding eave mountsis configured to overcome the engagement force and disengage each of thedetent members from the corresponding engagement feature and transitionthe canopy structure from the fully opened position to a collapsedposition without a need to directly disengage each of the sliding easemounts individually.
 2. The collapsible canopy structure of claim 1,wherein the detent member is biased toward an engaged positon with thecorresponding engagement feature of the corresponding vertical pole by aspring.
 3. The collapsible canopy structure of claim 1, wherein thedetent member comprises a spherical portion and an elongate shaftportion, the detent member further comprising a biasing member, whereinthe biasing member is configured to engage the elongate shaft portion.4. The collapsible canopy structure of claim 1, wherein the detentmember is external to the corresponding vertical pole.
 5. Thecollapsible canopy structure of claim 1, wherein the detent member isexternal to the vertical pole.
 6. The collapsible canopy structure ofclaim 1, wherein the detent member comprises a biasing member.
 7. Thecollapsible canopy structure of claim 6, wherein the biasing membercomprises a spring.
 8. The collapsible canopy structure of claim 6,wherein the biasing member comprises a resilient material.
 9. Thecollapsible canopy structure of claim 1, wherein a tension created bythe detent member is configured to be adjustably increased or decreased.10. The collapsible canopy structure of claim 1, wherein thecorresponding engagement feature comprises a circular shape.
 11. Thecollapsible canopy structure of claim 1, wherein the correspondingengagement feature comprises an opening.
 12. The collapsible canopystructure of claim 1, wherein the detent member is positioned below alocation at which the eaves couples to the sliding cave mount.